Thad Rippy
Thad Rippy at Southlake Kia

Thad Rippy

Variable Director

Southlake Kia

4191 E Lincoln Hwy
Merrillville, IN 46410

Contact Me
not yet
rated
2 Reviews
not yet
rated

2 Reviews

Write a Review

2 Reviews of Thad Rippy

August 27, 2025

Dealership Rating
Employee Rating

Avoid this dealer at all costs. Their service department is blatantly dishonest. I brought my fiancée’s Kia Forte in for a well-documented screen issue, simply to verify if it wa More

by G Cẃik
Workmanship
Service Communication
Recommend Dealer
No

Other Employees Tagged: Keeten Rippy, Derrek Nelson

Aug 28, 2025

Southlake Kia responded

Mr. Griffin, The brake inspection was not unsolicited, she requested the brake inspection along with the radio concern. We offered multiple times to bring the car back in and verify the brake pad life of the car by showing you personally. You claimed that you brought the car to Thomas Kia, our sister store, after your visit here, they have no record of that visit. Mistakes can happen, we acknowledge that, but you never gave us the chance to see what was going on. Your radio is no longer covered under factory warranty and the manufacturer declined to offer you a free one. As a gesture in good faith, I offered you install at no charge if you purchased a radio. We can't authorize warranty repairs outside of time and mileage as an independent franchise dealer. Since you did not purchase the car from us and have never serviced with us, we can't see if any extended warranties may apply. P.S stop deleting the review so it deletes our reply. Have a wonderful day!

Aug 30, 2025

G Cẃik responded

I want to break this down clearly, as the information you relayed to your manager does not align with the facts. At no point did I refuse service. However, time is valuable, and your team offered no resolution or compensation for requiring me to return due to your mistake just to receive and apology. I have been the one initiating contact at every stage, so I’m unclear how you claim to have “communicated multiple times” when the follow-up has only occurred because I reached out. The inspection was specifically for the steering wheel clicking sound (again well documented issue for a average service department). That issue is entirely unrelated to the brakes, yet your team attempted to connect the two. In addition, the tires were neither marked nor checked, which raises serious concerns about the accuracy of your inspection process in relation to possible break inspection that was supposedly requested. Due to the fact that if brakes were thought to be and issues tires would have been secondary point to check. The tires were not marked at all on inspection. Finally, any failure of your internal system to track paperwork is not my responsibility—especially when I have documented follow-up records directly from Thomas Kia, with a date on it... This has zero to do with the radio and 100% to do with how you and your team operate ethically and honestly for the people that visit your dealer.

July 24, 2025

Dealership Rating
Employee Rating

Had nothing but problems with this dealership their finance department and Thad himself regarding a total loss vehicle. Currently have been fighting with them for more than two months regarding gap ins More

by Southlakenissanisterrible
Sales Price Transparency
Purchase Time
Finance Experience
Recommend Dealer
No

Other Employees Tagged: Jim Menz

Dealership Inventory (231 Vehicles)

new 2026 Kia Sportage car, priced at $34,819
2026 Kia Sportage
new
Gray Metallic exterior
Automatic
All-wheel Drive
new 2026 Kia Seltos car, priced at $27,777
2026 Kia Seltos
new
Blue Black exterior
CVT
All-wheel Drive
new 2025 Kia Telluride car, priced at $50,589
2025 Kia Telluride
new
Metal exterior
Automatic
All-wheel Drive
new 2025 Kia K4 car, priced at $25,994
2025 Kia K4
new
Wave Blue exterior
CVT
Front-wheel Drive
new 2026 Kia Sportage car, priced at $38,145
2026 Kia Sportage
new
Metal exterior
Automatic
All-wheel Drive
new 2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid car, priced at $36,176
2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid
new
KDG exterior
Automatic
All-wheel Drive